Chief Legal Officer – San Francisco Bay Area (928-SLS)

Our client, one of the largest and most distinguished physician-led medical groups in the United States, has exclusively retained Solutus Legal Search to assist the company in its search for a Chief Legal Officer.

Reporting to our client’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) has exemplary relevant legal knowledge and business acumen and is a business and thought partner who is focused on assisting the company in achieving its objectives while managing risk. The CLO manages, directs, and personally handles all corporate and related legal matters for the organization. The CLO also commands a thorough knowledge of California and federal employment laws, health care laws, rules and regulations, and corporate governance to advise senior leaders, the Board of Directors, and members of the management team on all legal affairs.

This executive will serve as a business and legal partner to the CEO, the Associate Executive Directors with responsibility for legal affairs and human resources (HR), the Board of Directors, and service area leaders throughout the organization. The CLO will quickly develop a deep understanding of the company and the company’s business, and will have the strong business acumen necessary to collaborate with and support senior executives, the Board of Directors, and business leaders to achieve business objectives. The CLO also will manage and direct the legal department lawyers and administrative staff, and supervise and coordinate outside counsel to achieve desired results.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES :
• The CLO will have a broad set of responsibilities including:
• Partner closely with the CEO and Associate Executive Directors with responsibility for legal affairs and HR to oversee the organization’s legal operations and develop, implement, and execute a comprehensive legal strategy and agenda that aligns with the organization’s mission, values, and long-term business objectives.
• Provide strategic counsel on a wide range of matters affecting the organization, including those related to HR, medical practice operations and the organization’s integrated delivery system, key business partners, and corporate governance.
• Ensure the delivery of high-quality, timely, and cost-efficient legal services that effectively support corporate growth and operational excellence.
• Safeguard the organization’s interests by ensuring compliance with all legal, regulatory, and ethical obligations, and by promoting strong governance and fiduciary integrity.
• Collaborate with the CEO, the CFO, and executive team members to negotiate key contracts and other major business and financial agreements.
• Collaborate with the CEO, the CFO, and executive team members to pursue and achieve business objectives, including applying their legal knowledge and business acumen to assess business opportunities, including new business opportunities outside traditional healthcare delivery.
• Collaborate with legal officers and business team members of affiliated legal entities and business partners.
• Proactively identify, evaluate, and mitigate legal and regulatory risks while leading litigation strategy, dispute resolution, and compliance initiatives.
• Advise and support the Board of Directors on governance, compliance, and enterprise risk management matters, ensuring transparency and accountability.
• Direct legal department budgeting, resource management, and performance evaluation to optimize internal and external counsel engagement and operational efficiency.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing legal team committed to professional excellence, strategic partnership, and continuous improvement.

SKILLS AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:
• The CLO will be energetic, motivated, and passionate about making a difference and impact on healthcare service delivery at the company. The ideal candidate will be:
• Exemplary, values-based leader recognized for integrity and ethical conduct, inspiring trust and confidence among colleagues, stakeholders, and the broader community.
• Collaborative and relationship-driven executive who fosters a culture of transparency, respect, and accountability across complex, matrixed environments, while motivating teams to achieve excellence in a dynamic organizational context.
• Strategic, curious, innovative, and results-oriented leader who effectively balances mission fulfillment with business performance, consistently challenging conventional approaches when necessary or desirable to advance organizational goals.

QUALIFICATIONS:
• The CLO will possess the following qualifications:
• At least 15+ years of legal experience with a strong expertise in healthcare law.
• JD from an accredited law school. Admission to or eligible for admission to the State Bar of California.
• Deep healthcare legal experience with a strong knowledge of state (California) and federal laws and regulations impacting health care systems. Certification in Health Law is desired but not required.
• Extensive knowledge and experience in the following substantive areas of law and practice: corporate/transactional, corporate governance, and hospital and physician practice operations (including medical staff matters such as credentialing, bylaws, and disputes).
• Extensive knowledge about and experience advising corporations, including ideally healthcare providers, on federal and California employment law matters.
• Experience drafting and negotiating a wide range of complex healthcare industry-related contracts (e.g., hospital, physician employment contracts, service and vendor agreements, managed care contracts, technology licensing agreements, joint ventures, and non-disclosure agreements).
• Experience supporting a corporate board of directors.
• Experience with or affinity for partnering with senior executives almost all of whom are physicians.
• Management and leadership experience (such as leading a legal department).

Compensation consists of an annual base salary range of $475,000 to $550,000, a target bonus, and generous benefits. The total compensation package will vary and depend on the candidate’s level of seniority, number of years of directly relevant experience, and location. Some travel among offices is anticipated.

This is an incredible opportunity to lead a high-quality legal team and help guide one of the largest and most distinguished medical groups in the United States, playing a role in shaping the delivery and advancement of healthcare in this country.

Solutus has been selected as the retained representative on this desirable search. Resumes submitted directly to our client will be forwarded to Solutus for review and evaluation.

Ref. # 928-SLS